Last week, Washington Report had published a presentation of some reports and studies which were released lately by the U.S research centers brown as Think Tanks – this presentation raised many questions from our readers inquiring about the nature of these centers and their important role in the field of U.S policy. Therefore we decided to present to our readers a special report on the phenomenon of "Think Tanks". In this respect, we welcome any further questions by our readers on the U.S political life and we also welcome any suggestions regarding what they want to read in these reports.
The Nature of Think Tanks
The definition of Think Tanks is still a subject of argument in Washington as most institutions, classified as Think Tanks, do not use this term in their identifying documents, rather they are officially recognized as non-governmental organizations. The latter term is one of the regulatory terms known in American law. These organizations are sometimes called (C-3-501). These research centers usually avoid proclaiming themselves as "Think Tanks" due to the negative reputation associated with this term. This term is often misunderstood. They are regarded as defective tools lacking complete independence and power and are manipulated by government agencies in the U.S.A to support the government agenda.
Despite the difficulties regarding the identity of these centers, we can define a "Think Tank" as any organization conducting political research activities under the umbrella of educating and illuminating civil society and, most especially, providing advice to decision makers. As for the type of issues and policies tackled by Think Tanks, they are many. Some centers focus on foreign policy and global issues. Others conduct research concerning domestic policies such as economic issues and all their aspects, environmental policies, energy, and agriculture. We also find some centers dealing with more than one of the aforementioned issues such as The Brookings Institute.
These organizations exist in many names and identities. Sometimes, an organization calls itself a Foundation, and sometimes an Institute. Others prefer to call it Fund and in some other cases Endowment. But in the end, these organizations fall under one sector in the U.S political field. Indeed, it is an influential sector, which has a fundamental role in the process of decision making as the following paragraphs show.
Think Tanks’ interaction with U.S decision-makers
Due to the variety of Think Tanks, the report gives a special attention to those organizations associated with U.S policy towards the Middle East. It is understandable that the ordinary observer cannot understand the important role played by Think Tanks’ in the process of decision–making in U.S.A., because these organizations are non-governmental and have no official ties with governmental institutions such as the case with the known lobby organizations which declare their connections and the people and bodies that they try to influence inside the U.S government. Although the Think Tank sector includes non-governmental institutions, it influences the way of thinking and political speech in Washington in the long run. The research and studies conducted by Think Tanks find their way to the offices of big decision-makers. There also periodicals specializing in politics released by these institutions. One of the obvious examples is “Foreign Affairs”, released by the Council on Foreign Relations and the “Middle East Journal” released by the Middle East Institute and also “Foreign Policy” magazine issued by Carnegie Endowment of International Peace.
There are also various pamphlets issued by Think Tanks. Under this category, we find “Special Reports” issued by the United States Institute of Peace and “Defense Monitor”, issued by the Center for Defense Information.
These studies often tackle hot topics and issues that satisfy the needs of U.S decision – makers. Currently, greater attention is drawn to the reports and articles that are concerned with analyzing the situation in Iraq and issues of reform in the world, as well as detailed analysis of public sentiment towards the U.S. in Arab societies. Other hot issues at the moment include education systems in Muslim communities, Iranian nuclear capabilities and how to deal with it, terrorism and its relation to religious extremism, and economic deterioration.
Many U.S politicians and their major counselors and advisors often depend on these magazine reports as reliable resources of information on the situation in the region and the available options to deal with these issues. In the view of report receivers, the studies released by Think Tanks are a substitute for complex academic works as the latter require a good deal of historical background in order to understand them. But Think Tank papers are usually simple and do not require great effort exerted by the reader to understand them.
For this very reason, many university professors specializing in Middle East affairs decide to combine their academic activities with participation with Think Tanks where they can find fame and prestige.
The interaction between the U.S decision-makers and Think Tank sector is represented in the various tips presented by top researchers of Think Tanks to American politicians. Congressmen may sometimes seek the help of these researchers to listen to their views and recommendations. This interaction usually takes place during the numerous hearings held by Congressional committees concerned with foreign policy, defense and national security. The White House, the Department of State, and the Department of Defense, all use the services of the researchers through special meetings and seminars.
To and from the various American Administrations
It is worth mentioning that many of the top visitors of Think Tanks are on good terms with U.S politicians as many of them are ex-politicians and ex-decision makers. For example, Edward Walker, head of Middle East Institute, is a former Deputy Secretary of Defense and also a former U.S ambassador. Martin Endyk, director of Saban Center Middle East Studies in Brookings Institute, was also a deputy Secretary of State and a former ambassador to Israel. As for Kenneth Pollack, the director of research in the same institute is an ex-director of the Unit of Gulf Affairs in the National Security Council. Richard Hasse who headed the Department of Policy Planning in the Department of State is the current head of Foreign Relations Council.
Lastly, Denis Ross, one of the top consultants in the administration of the former U.S president, Bill Clinton, works now as a director of Washington Institute for Near East Affairs. This phenomenon has helped strengthen the cooperation between Think Tanks and the process of decision-making as these two are tied with strong personal relations.
Lobby Centers and Think Tanks
It is important not to mix understandings about Think Tanks and Lobby Centers. The former group is considered as non-profit organizations and do not enjoy legal rights to work on changing the course of American policies by using pressure or political campaigns as lobby organizations do. At the same time, there are sharp accusations aimed at Think Tanks for practicing these activities secretly and using their identities as non-profit organizations to cover their efforts to change the course of American policy for specific targets.
The charge of bias is usually aimed at an institute or a specific center. These accusations stem from the inclinations and the ideological tendencies that dominate the researchers working in this or that center.
For instance, the American Enterprise Institute is known for its right-wing inclinations and notably the New Conservatives way of thinking. This is because there is a group of right-wing conservative hawks working there, such as Richard Pearl, Newt Gingrich, Daniela Plitika, and the female ex-ambassador Kari Panrik and also the wife of the vice-president, Lynne Cheney. This is why the institute is labeled as the bastion Washington conservatism.
On the other hand, some Think Tanks are accused of being biased towards the policies preferable by Arab countries such as the Middle East Institute. There are also some organizations known for being biased towards Israel such as Washington Institute of Near East Policy and other centers, in favor of Palestinian Rights, such as the Foundation for Middle East Peace (FMEP).
Influence in Think Tanks Sector
Think Tanks are varied in their abilities to influence U.S policies. These abilities depend on numerous factors of which the most important is financing and the power of personal relations that link the foundation and its workers with the important U.S decision-makers. Fundraising success is a generally accepted measuring-stick for the larger success any Think Tank. Finance is considered the most basic challenge for most of these institutions.
Finance usually comes from the membership fees or the sales revenue of printed material issued by the organization. Moreover, many rich people in the U.S political community and other countries donate large sums of money to these organizations. Other big companies in the U.S.A. such as oil companies and weapon industries also donate large sums of money to these foundations to secure the emergence of studies and recommendations that reach U.S the decision makers that would serve their benefits.
